Osteospermum plant named &#39;Sunny Philip&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunny Philip’, characterized by its large upright purple flower heads; spatulate ray florets with colors: from white RHS N155B to violet RHS 85A on top and blue-violet on the back RHS 86A to RHS 86C; compact and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems; moderately vigorous growth habit, but less need for chemical growth retardation; and high number of large flowers per plant.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

Sunny Philip

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T.Norl., commonly known as Cape Daisy and hereinafter referred to by thevariety denomination ‘Sunny Philip’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor, Bjarne Larsen, in Stige, Denmark. The newOsteospermum originated from a controlled cross breeding made in May2000 by the Inventor between between Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl.seedling designated ‘3.122.983’ and Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl.seedling designated ‘9913’. The Inventor selected the new Osteospermumcultivar from the progeny of the above crossing in 2003 on the basis ofits flower color, size, and compact, freely branching habit. Plants ofthe new Osteospermum are upright, compact and have a unique colorcombination of upper and underside of the ray petals.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken andpropagated at trial production batches in Stige, Denmark, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Osteospermum are stable and reproducedtrue to type in many successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Philip’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sunny Philip’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Large upright purple flower heads;

2. Spatulate ray florets with colors: from white RHS N155B to violet RHS85A on top and blue-violet on the back RHS 86A to RHS 86C;

3. Compact and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems;

4. Moderately vigorous growth habit, but less need for chemical growthretardation; and

5. High number of large flowers per plant.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Philip’ can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl. Cultivar ‘Sunny Zara’ (unpatented).However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in StigeDenmark, plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Philip’ and the cultivar ‘SunnyZara’ differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Osteospermum have striking color combinations ofwhite/violet ray flowers and blue disk with orange pollen.

2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have darker green leaves while plantsof the cultivar ‘Sunny Zara’ have yellow-green-colored leaves.

3. Plants of the new Osteospermum are shorter and more compact than theplants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Zara’

4. Plants of the new Osteospermum have more flowers per plant than theplants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Zara’ as well as larger flowers.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Philip’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddetails of flower form color and structures of the new cultivar, showingthe colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colorreproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newOsteospermum.

The first photograph shows a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Sunny Philip’ as grown in an 11 cm pot.

The second photograph shows close-up, top view of the composite youngand older flowers of ‘Sunny Philip’.

The third photograph shows a close-up of an individual flower of ‘SunnyPhilip’.

The fourth photograph shows a close-up of the back side of an individualflower of ‘Sunny Philip’.

The fifth photograph shows the detail of front and back of a ‘SunnyPhilip’ flower and young and older leaves.

The sixth photograph shows numerous ‘Sunny Philip’ plants as grown inthe greenhouse.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 4^(th) edition. Plants weregrown under greenhouse conditions. Plants used for this description weregrown for about 20 weeks after cutting

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl. Seedling            No. 3.122.98.        -   Male parent.—Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T. Norl., Seedling No            9913.        -   Propagation.—Type cutting terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Perennial plant with upright plant habit. Osteospermum            flowers in composite heads. Freely branching with lateral            flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 18 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 18            cm.        -   Diameter.—25 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous growth rate.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves alternate, single, lobed,            obovate to spatulate shape, brochidodromus venation. Length:            3-10 cm. Width: Up to 50 mm. Apex: obtuse. Base: attenuate.            Margin: broadly dentate. Texture: smooth, glabrous, shiny.            Scattered short, stiff hairs. Color: Young foliage, upper            and lower surfaces: 137C and 137D, green. Mature foliage,            upper surfaces 139A, lower surface 139B. Yellow-green flat,            winged petioles.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Tubular disk and petalled ray            flowers in composite “pin-wheel” heads; with 15 parted            involucre. 9-10 cm sturdy peduncles.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring            and summer. Season can be extended by vernalization and long            day treatments.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on temperature and light            conditions 5 to 10 days. Flowers persistent, petals folding            and withering slowly.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flowers.—Length: Ray petals: About 23 mm. Width: About 5 mm.            Spatulate, acute ray petal lobes. Ray petal color: Upper            surfaces, 155B, white to 85A violet at base, lower surfaces            (some of which are seen from above) 85A to 86C violet. Disk            florets tubular, 3 mm high, 86C Tips of corolla to            translucent 155A at the base.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About            9-10 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 144C yellow-green.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Anthers.—Linear, fused, stamen color 202A, black, pollen 16A            yellow-orange.        -   Style and stigma, color 155A,white and 201A black,            respectively.        -   Seed.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm.        -   Weather tolerance.—Plants of the new Osteospermum have            exhibited good tolerance to draught, rain.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘SunnyPhilip’, as illustrated and described herein.